Orchard’s Children’s Centre is run by:
In partnership with:
Orchard Children’s Centre © All rights reserved. Website design by Alex Trevor
Natalie Dickman, Deputy Coordinator
I moved over from the nursery unit at Shefford Lower School to cover Catherine’s maternity leave – and stayed on! I like the variety of activities and support we offer. One day I might be helping a mum to access pre school funding, then doing one-to-one baby massage session in someone’s home, before heading out to a playing field on the RAVE bus. I coordinate our outreach sessions and run the Me Too group. Me Too is a lovely group if you are new or anxious about coming to the centre. I look forward to seeing you.
Catherine Williams, Coordinator
Hello. I have been working at the children’s centre since it started – except for a year off with my last child. I think children’s centres are brilliant and I love my job. I am a trained teacher and have been a volunteer at my children’s preschools, toddler groups and my local NCT group. You’ll see me at the Baby Brasserie breastfeeding sessions. I also do baby massage and parenting courses as well as covering for other staff when needed. I have a particular interest in pregnancy and birth – so if you’ve got any questions about that then ask away!
Kirsty Jeffrey, Family Worker
I have been a family worker at Orchard since September 2009 and before that I was a childminder. I love every aspect of my job, from running Jitterbugs and Little Explorers, to doing parenting classes and baby massage and also one-to-one family support.
Gemma Gordon, Family Worker
I have been at Orchard Children’s Centre since the beginning and before that I worked at a Sure Start centre in the north. I do Messy Play, Bumps and Babies, Buggy Walk, Rhyme Time at Gravenhurst, as well as baby massage and parenting courses. You’ll also see me at Breakfast Cafe. I think children’s centres are brilliant for families – the children can have fun and the parents/carers can make friends and access a whole lot of information and support. Grandparents are very welcome.
Kate Brown, Fathers’ Involvement Worker
Hi, I am a family worker with a particular role of involving dads – and granddads. I run the Action Dads sessions that are at the centre on the last Saturday of every month. We have a good number of dads along each week, with activities and toast! I also am the key person for the Healthy Under 5s award and do the ‘Cooking with Kate’ healthy eating course. One of my favourite sessions is the Best Start postnatal course that I run with Flying Start Children’s Centre and our local health visiting team. Children’s centres are there to support all parents – and we’re very friendly. All families are welcome. I wish they’d been a children’s centre when my daughter was little.
Melissa Sekeran, Administrator and Nursery Nurse
Hi, I do two jobs at the children’s centre. Most of the time I am doing the admin, so if you ring up it might be me that answers. I also input all the registrations forms and manage the bookings for the courses. The other part of my job gets me right out of the office, as I run a Rhyme Time session on Chicksands base. It is there that I really see the value of children’s centres, seeing people making friends and supporting each other, and watching the children grow in confidence as their speech and language develops; it makes it all worthwhile.